Improvement in steam-spades



G. M. RAMSAY.

Steam Plow.

Patented Mar. 10, '1857.

AM. PHOTl-LITHD. CU. NM (OSBORNE'S PROCESS) i UNITED STATES GEORGE M. EAMSAY,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN STVEAM -SPADES.

` To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEO. l\IORTON RAMSAY, of the city, County, and State ot' New York, have invented a new and Improved Spazling- Machine; and I do hereby declare that the' following is a full,c1ear, and exact description of the same; and it consists ofa steam-power spading-machine coustructcd in such a manner that bythe application ot'said power, two or more loconotivedriving-wheels are made to travel upon the solid or unspaded earth, carrying with them the apparatus f'or generating and appropriatiug power-necessary to the transportation, guidance, and operation, (by means of various gearing and shafting hereinat'ter described,) a

. series of perpendieular or parallel alternate revolving spades, in such a nanner as to enter and leave the earth iu that position, and-that half of said spades are made to revolve in proportion to thedistance trarelcd by either side, whereby the earth is spaded or sliced down and thrown back in a good condition for planting and cultivating, all of which is fnlly set forth in the following specification and acconpanying drawings, including the letters, ret'erring alike to each drawing and making part ot' this specitication, wherein Figurc l is a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 a top or plan view.

A is four Iocomotive and driving whcels, (about four feet diameter and thirteen inches in width,) with the usual rihs on their peripheries to prevent slippin Bisaframeextending all around said wheels, having short aXles or journals extending inward through the hubs A A, and upon which A revolves.

On the inner side of each wheel A, I aftix a (rank, O, by which the hack and forward wheels, A, are connected by D.

E is a cog-wheel aflixed to wheels A, Fig. 2, and revolving on the same journal, and conects with pinion-wheel l on the same shaft with G, which in its turn conuects with pinionwheelH on the end of double-crank shafts I and revolves with the same. I are connected or united by the perpendicular or parallel alternate revolving spades J, having novable points M. The double-crank shafts I are divided in the center at k, that' each half may work independent of the other and in concert with the wleels ot' their respective sides or halvcs, wherebv their revolntions are in number in proportion to the distance traveled by each side ot' the machine when turning curves.

Spades J are made to spade the full width of the track made by wheels A, which prevents wheels A from traveling upon spa-ded earth. The frame K that supports the spades, crankshafts, and wheels H, with the Swing-arms L, are hung to or from the same journals of F and G iu such a manner as to permit- Wheels H to roll up over and on wheels G, by which means thedepth ot'spades J is controlled. The steam or other apparatus for generating and appropriating like power may occupy the center of the machine and be applied direct to G or A on each side ot' the machine by separate and independent apparatus, each propellng and Operating its respective half, which better ena hles the conductor to control the course and action of the spades J. Henee in turning curves the spades ot' each side work unifornlyin proportion to the distance traveled.

The operation consists of the revolntions ot' wheels A being connnicaed to and through the various gear-whcels and appurtenances described to the spndes J,whcreby they are made to revolve alternate'ly in a perpendicular or parallel position, and are caused to enter and leave the earth in that position, and in passing through their crank-shafrs (in their forward halfrevolutiou) they are freed from dirt, and again enter the earth clean and sharp.

Having thus` fully explained my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

The alternate spades J, in combination with the double crank shal'ts I, constructed, arran ged, and Operating substantially in the manner and t'or the purpose set forth.

GEO. MORTON nAMsAY.

Witnesses T. 0. DAVIS, B. HUNT. 

